By Matthew Sims
The state government has confirmed plans were taking shape on the construction of a new emergency department expansion at Casey Hospital, as response times continue to lag in key categories.
The 2022-23 Victorian State Budget included a commitment for Casey Hospital to receive a share of $236 million in funding to double the capacity of its emergency department, as part of a $2.3 billion investment to upgrade existing and build new hospitals across the state.
Casey Hospital’s emergency department expansion would include a dedicated paediatric space for children and their families, and support an additional 52,000 presentations annually, helping ease the pressure on the existing emergency departments for the hospitals’ dedicated doctors, nurses, orderlies and other hospital staff.
A Department of Health spokesperson said planning works were progressing on the new emergency department.
“The expanded emergency department will respond to the growing number of adult and paediatric presentations in the community,” the spokesperson said.
“Construction is expected to commence in 2024 and is on track for opening in 2026, and we’re working closely with Monash Health to ensure any impact to services is minimised during the redevelopment.”
According to Victorian Agency for Health Information data, Casey Hospital treated 78.35 per cent of patients within the recommended time during the January to March 2023 period, which represented a step up from the April to June 2022 period in which only 37.64 per cent of patients were treated within the recommended time.
In category two emergency cases requiring treatment within 10 minutes, Casey Hospital treated 48.94 per cent of patients within the recommended time during the January to March 2023 period.
While Casey Hospital treated 83.46 per cent of category three emergency cases within the recommended time of 30 minutes, this figure represented a lag behind others hospitals such as Dandenong Hospital (92.6 per cent) and Angliss Hospital (86.22 per cent).
During the Legislative Assembly meeting on Wednesday 3 May, Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson requested an update on the works.
“In the 2022–23 budget it was announced that the Andrews Labor government will redevelop and expand the emergency department at Casey Hospital,” she said.
“This follows from a major expansion of the hospital that was completed in 2020 to meet the soaring demand for health care in the outer south-east.
“I know people in my electorate are excited to see these upgrades delivered, and alongside the major redevelopment of Dandenong Hospital it will provide world-class health care for residents in Narre Warren North.”
